Rats FAQs

Why have I got rats in my house?

Brisbane rats and mice breed well when there is sufficient food from native plants. An increase in their numbers does NOT always mean there are food scraps left about. In Autumn the cooler weather encourages rodents to move into warmer areas and the roof of a house is an ideal safe place.

But remember, most properties in Brisbane are visited by rodents from time to time. It is not a reflection on the management of your property. Even the ceilings of multi storey buildings will get visits from rodents especially if there are tree branches touching the gutters.

What methods reduce the risk of getting rodents?

The key actions are good hygiene, keeping lawns trimmed, removing rubbish and any items leaning against walls that might provide easy shelter. Trees should be trimmed so there are no branches touching the roof or gutter that rats can use as an easy runway to your roof. The fallen fruit and nuts from trees like mangoes and macadamia should be collected. Around Brisbane it is noticeable that bamboo plants attract rats since they nest under the roots and eat new shoots.

The best action, before you notice a problem is to arrange for Peter the Possum and Bird Man to set up rodent bait stations around the property using plastic bait stations that are friendly to wildlife and safe to use around children and pets.

How do you get rid of rats?

The servicemen lay commercial grade baits which the rats eat and then they usually leave the cavity to go outside looking for water. We can also inspect for any main entry points, and advise on long term solutions. We also provide written advice with every rodent treatment. However it is not practical to completely exclude rats and mice from your property since they can gain access through quite small holes.

Do the rats die inside the roof?

As our servicemen are licensed pest controllers they have access to commercial grade baits which are very effective. With our treatments it is uncommon for rats to die inside the roof, but there is no guarantee. If they do die they do smell really bad but the good thing is that it is usually only for a few days. The best thing to do is open the house up as much as possible and ventilate the area to speed up the process, also using a neutraliser like Glen 20 can work well. Although the though of them dying inside is horrible, if you don’t do a treatment the rats will keep breeding and then when you are finally forced to lay the baits there will be more rats and a higher chance of one dying inside the building.

What damage can rats do?

Rats and mice are rodents which mean their teeth continually grow, so they have to gnaw wood or similar items to wear their teeth down. So rats will chew anything. They like to sleep near warm spots so often chew light fittings and electrical cables. They also chew plastic including plastic water-pipes and flexible water hoses on dishwashers. They often make holes in walls and build nests in insulation. This is why we recommend getting rid of rats straight away.

Will my child or dog be harmed?

When our servicemen lay baits to remove Brisbane rat they take extreme care to place them in secure locations where children and pets can’t access them. We work with children and pets everyday and will advise on pet safety during the consultation. Detailed advice on safety issues and rodent control is included in our written advice sheet.

Can you eliminate rats and mice?

Rodents breed very quickly if there is plenty of food, so a few adults can become one hundred in a year! (In theory). We can treat them and block off the main access holes, but they gain access through very small holes, so it is impossible to eliminate them.

The service from both the original call during the Christmas break and the office response on their first day back was excellent. The service man telephoned and made an appointment and showed up on time and dealt with our bee problem efficiently and effectively and told us we may see a few bees that day but none the following day and he was spot on. Overall we received excellent service from Peter the possom and bird and bees man and their info on the website was also very helpful.read more

I have used these guys for a roof cavity vacuum and also for a gutter vacuum and have been happy with the outcome for both. They are a lovely team of guys who get in and get the job done, with no fuss, and minimal disturbance. They are also reasonably priced. I will continue to use them.read more

I received a call back promptly from Kenny even though it was a couple of days before Christmas. The guys were able to come straight after Christmas and were prompt and professional in fixing my bird nesting problem. Their assistance was very much appreciated.read more

After weeks of interrupted sleep we can all rest easy now the possums have been "locked out" of our roof. Multiple visits were required for the desired outcome but that was no problem as the roof space could be accessed from the outside of the house. Regular updates with what and when questions answered straight away. Now finally, possum free although the possum keeps coming back to see if he can get back in. All in all a great job done.
Many thanks,
Diane Carlsonread more

I maintain the gardens at the Cultural Centre and occasionally have male turkeys mound building. This can cause safety risks with debris across pathways. Peter the Possum and Bird Man offer an excellent service. The staff are very helpful and professional and are on site within a day. They have great knowledge of turkey behaviour and always put the animal's welfare first.. They are back to pick up a trapped bird within half an hour to relocate them to their new home. So far 100% success on trapping my mound building males. Thanks for an excellent service.read more

Great service from start to finish.
I chose this company to vacuum, insulate, & install 2 whirlybirds, because of their honest and friendly approach. I wasn't disappointed.
I highly recommend Shane, Matt & Aiden. Thanks so much guys!read more

Great job done... thank you...our turkey was caught within 15mins and taken to pastures new in a mature reserve..quick and efficient friendly and helpful service... the whole process was much easier than anticipated...will be recommending you thanks again Sarah The Gapread more

Phoned Peter the possum man on a Monday, spoke to a lady who said they are flat out couldn't get there to Wednesday at the earliest and he would ring, never rang! We were sure we had a possum but the lady on the other end insisted it was rats as the indications pointed that way, still wanted them to come out, after realizing they weren't calling took her advise and put ratsak up there on the Friday and just had to kill a possum who was suffering from eating all the ratsak! Very annoyed as we love wildlife and this was the worst possible outcome!read more

I recently called Peter the Possum Man after a possum made its way down the chimney in a home I was selling. The property contained staged furniture and had been vacant for several days before we realised that the possum had been trapped in the house (poor little guy!). Though I called near close of business, Pete came out on short notice and sorted things out in a pleasant and professional manner. What a life saver! Thanks Pete and the team for your prompt response and great service.read more

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